Metro Manila water allocation cut as Super El Niño looms

Metro Manila's water supply allocation will be reduced beginning October due to concerns over the potential effects of Super El Niño. The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) announced on September 30 that it will decrease the water allocation for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) from the current 50 cubic meters per second to 44 cubic meters per second.

This reduction will also impact irrigation supply, cutting it from 30 to 35 cubic meters per second to 20 cubic meters per second starting October. The NWRB's decision aims to maintain water security for both residents and farmers in anticipation of a rare and potentially severe El Niño event. PAGASA, the country's national weather bureau, warned that this event could be the hottest or most intense on record.

The Angat Dam, which supplies 90% to 98% of Metro Manila's water and irrigation to over 31,000 hectares of land, could face reduced rainfall, with its current water level at the normal 208-meter mark, up from a record low of 150 meters in July. The NWRB is working to reach a 212-meter water level by year's end and is urging MWSS and other water providers to explore alternative water sources, such as treatment facilities in Laguna Lake, Cavite, and Parañaque.

The agency also urged the public to conserve water to maintain a reliable supply during the Super El Niño.